The frigid winter morning shrouded the South China Sea in a thick fog, obscuring the sleek fishing trawler of two Vietnamese fishermen, Binh Gia Tung and Chiman Quang Dung as it cautiously navigated the treacherous waters. Two days of fruitful fishing had buoyed their spirits but that very day, luck seemed to have abandoned them. The nets came up stubbornly empty several times.
As the fog began to lift, revealing a sliver of sun, Gia Tung and Quang Dung decided to call it a day and started arranging for their lunch. Though their disappointment lingered, the unexpected discovery of some heavy, intricately wrapped packages sparked a flicker of excitement. It was not an easy job for the fishermen to pull up the heavy nets. Sweat gathered on their forehead even on that cold day though their eyes sparkled in anticipation. Inside, nestled amongst the fishing gear, lay several big packets. Though packed very well due to their long relationship with the seawater, the bindings became weaker. On unwrapping, a treasure trove of exquisite white and blue porcelain came out.
“Let's head home, it will take a long time brother,” Binh declared, his eyes twinkling. “These will make my little daughter Anh Dona's eyes light up.” He gestured towards the delicate tableware. “You take some for your wife too,” Binh murmured, a hint of a smile gracing his lips. “Decide, which one you want for her.”
They shared the chinaware and the unexpected gift softened the sting of their empty nets, reminding them that even on a day of misfortune, the hope of wondrous happenings could be found in the most unexpected places.
There was a hue and cry as the mesmerizing and eye-catching Blue Potteries in the hands of the little girl, Anh Dona caught the eyes of a passerby journalist and on investigation, ultimately the cat was out of the bag. Almost 200 years later, a great piece of information about the wrecked ship, ‘Tek Sing’ came to light and her remains were discovered as divers from Java, Sumatra, and Singapore were put to work.
The Tragedy of the Tek Singh
January, 1822
The three-masted ship ‘Tek Singh’ (True Star) was nearly 55 yards long, about 11 yards wide, and weighed close to 1000 tons was ready to sail, laden with 200 crews, 1,600 passengers, and a vast cargo of pottery, silk, spices, and herbs set sail from Amoy Port in Xiamen, Fujian of South China for Jakarta, Indonesia. Lack of space forced the workers to tie up some of the merchandise and hang them on the outer body of the vessel. Most passengers were Chinese evacuees seeking fortune in the sugarcane fields of Java and were placed on the open deck of the overloaded and dangerously populated ship.
A month passed uneventfully.
Low Tako, the Captain of the ship ‘Tek Singh' conceived a daring plan despite the growing risk to navigate the vessel through the uncharted Gaspar Strait, a shorter but untested route. He was worried about the ship's dwindling food and water supplies which demanded a swift arrival at the destination, leaving little room for caution. So, what was inevitable, happened as nobody can defy fate. No one thought about the risk the dangerously laden ship could face.
Tragically, the ship Tek Singh sank.
When it did sink, no one kept a record of the poor people on the open deck during that severe winter as the other dignified ones were rich Chinese Businessmen and so, the fortune of a large number of passengers crowded onto the open deck remains unknown, a grim testament to the disregard for human life in the pursuit of profit. This maritime disaster, a century and a half before modern diving techniques, highlights the perils of unchecked ambition and the vulnerability of those seeking a better life.
February 6, 1822
A ferocious north-westerly gale struck the air-bourne vessel ‘Tek Singh’ as it traversed the Gaspar Strait, a mere 187 miles from its intended destination. The storm relentlessly battered the ship, ultimately driving it onto a treacherous barrier reef near Belvedere Shoals. Regardless of the shallow waters; only a few hundred feet deep, the damaged vessel drowned, leaving many passengers stranded without adequate lifeboats.
1912, April 15
Ninety years later, history repeated itself.
The RMS Titanic submerged in the Atlantic Ocean, a tragedy that echoed the fate of the SS Tek Singh 90 years prior which is however referred to as the ‘Titanic of yesteryear’. Both the ships met their demise under almost identical circumstances, one in collisions with the iceberg and the other the coral reefs highlighting the dangers of reluctant navigation and overconfidence.
However, significant differences existed too.
Seasonality: Tek Singh braved the harsh winter seas, while Titanic succumbed to the perils of spring.
Passenger Demographics: Titanic, a symbol of opulence, carried a predominantly upper-class clientele, while Tek Singh likely transported a more diverse and perhaps less affluent passenger base.
Life-Saving Measures: Just like the undervalued ship Tek Sing; Titanic, despite her grandeur, was tragically under-equipped with lifeboats, contributing to the high loss of life.
Circumstances: Titanic's sinking, due to excessive speed and a disregard for ice warnings, became a cautionary tale of human fallibility.
Historical Legacy: Titanic's fame stems from its iconic status as a symbol of technological advancement and luxury, overshadowing the equally tragic loss of life aboard Tek Singh. God knows how many on this earth have heard her name!
While the name ‘Tek Singh’ may be less or not at all familiar to the general public, its story serves as a poignant reminder of maritime disasters that often claim the lives of those less fortunate. The focus on the Titanic, with its glamorous passengers, reflects a societal tendency to prioritize the narratives of the privileged.
A Call for Remembrance
It's crucial to remember the tragedies that befall all segments of society, regardless of social standing. The sinking of the Tek Singh, though less celebrated in popular culture, demands our attention as a stark reminder of the enduring human cost of maritime accidents.
On May 12, 1999; following the official discovery of the ‘Tek Singh’, a significant amount of cargo was recovered by renowned salvage expert Captain Michael Hatcher, specializing in the retrieval of sunken vessels. Remarkably, nearly 90 years after the Titanic's sinking, the ‘Tek Singh’ yielded a unique treasure: a cache of exquisite potteries, remarkably preserved despite decades beneath the sea. This delicate cargo, renowned for its exceptional durability, is believed to retain its pristine condition for centuries. Even today, these exquisite blue and white porcelain pieces continue to be prized possessions, finding eager buyers in European markets.
Constructed primarily of wood, the ‘Tek Singh’ likely disintegrated over time, leaving little trace of its hull. However, a testament to its enduring legacy, meticulously wrapped blue pottery emerged from the depths, its delicate beauty intact.